Brunswick football routed by Cushing

Updated 10:09 pm, Saturday, October 20, 2012

A football team can compensate for poor execution with extra effort ,but if both are lacking it can spell trouble.

Trouble is just what the Brunswick football team ran into Saturday, losing at home to Cushing Academy 35-7.

Bruins' head coach Jarrett Shine was certainly disappointed in the poor execution, but maybe more displeased with the effort he saw at times from his team.

"It was a little bit of both. There were just times when we didn't know what was going on on the field," Shine said. "What can I say? It wasn't a good day for us."

The Bruins (2-3) knew it would be tough to contain the ground game of the Penguins which features halfback Elijah Rowe and fullback Michael Scotman running behind one of the biggest offensive lines in New England, but whatever game plan they had was not run the way the coached intended.

"We knew what was coming," Shine said. "There were times where we just couldn't stop them and then not getting our offense going really hurts our defense, so, that was the biggest issue for us today."

Brunswick nearly got on the board first, but an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown by Sam Fraser was called back for a block in the back.

The resulting penalty left the Bruins starting on the 8-yard line instead of leading the game.

After a punt by Brunswick, the Penguins were able to convert and take a lead they would never relinquish.

After three runs by Rowe, quarterback Liam McCarthy play actioned and found a wide open Seth Karlins for a 46-yard touchdown pass.

The Penguins (2-2) planned on using the run to open up the passing game, and the effectiveness of the ground game allowed them to do just that.

"Ideally we feed the running back, he's not bad, and when we can put it in the air, we'll put it in the air," Cushing coach Wayne Clarke said.

As impressed as Clarke was with his offense, it was the defense that stood out in his mind.

"We were real nervous because they are a throwing offense," Clarke said. "They do a lot of great things and they have a lot of talented kids over there.

"Hey, we came out and we were lucky today because there were a few plays out there where they could have toasted us."

Brunswick quarterback Todd Stafford was intercepted on the ensuing drive and Cushing made the Bruins pay, scoring two plays later on an 11-yard run by Rowe.

Cushing once again took over inside Bruins territory and went up 21-0 on a 31-yard pass from McCarthy to Karlins.

The Penguins pushed the lead to 28-0 but Brunswick had a chance to score after getting the ball back with 2 minutes to play but Stafford was picked off again.

The Penguins were content to pound the ball and run the clock in the second half to salt away their big victory.

Brunswick finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when Sam Fraser took a reverse from James Robinson and ran 40 yards for the Bruins only score.